OUR TOP 5 CITIES TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Sláinte! Tis almost that day, yes it is.

Did you know, the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade didn’t take place in Ireland…as we all may expect. Its roots are actually in the very American. Though, there is debate as to where in the U.S. it was first celebrated. Some say Boston while others claim New York. Regardless, what began as a Catholic feast day, quickly turned into one of America’s biggest cultural holidays.

With more than 31 million people in the U.S. claiming Irish ancestry, it’s easy to see how it became such a cultural phenomenon here in the U.S. Not all cities “celebrations” are created equal though. So, as a company focused on placing people all over the country, we went ahead and researched the Top 5 Cities to celebrate on the “interwebs.” And since everything on the “interwebs” is true, you can pretty much trust that are list is “blarney-free.” Wink, wink. We ourselves were surprised that Boston wasn’t even in the top 3, but we’re not here to say our word is the bible on this subject, we’ll defer to our travelers who have experienced the holiday all over and let you all chime in here. Would love to hear if you have better options!

Either way, we found 5 cities, and of course being in the business of placing travelers in those cities, got some quick links to current assignments we have in/near all of them (those states to be exact).

Chi-Town. City of Big Shoulders. The Windy City. The Second City. Many nicknames, and even more to do, eat and experience. Don’t let that last nickname fool you either, Chicagoans will tell you they are second to none. Steely skyscrapers, top chefs, rocking festivals – the Windy City will blow you away with its low-key cultured awesomeness.It also had made out list of the Top 5 NHL arenas to visit if you’re a hockey fan (here). Everything to do here compliments of lonelyplanet.com

Cheesesteaks and green beer? Yuppers. 'Philly' as it's affectionately known, is known for its rich history and small-town charm.Not to mention another great spot to check out professional hockey games during this time of year. Everything to do here compliments of lonelyplanet.com

Madison reaps a lot of kudos – most walkable city, best road-biking city, most vegetarian-friendly, gay-friendly, environmentally friendly and just plain all-round friendliest city in the USA. Ensconced on a narrow isthmus between Mendota and Monona Lakes, it's a pretty combination of small, grassy state capital and liberal, bookish college town. An impressive foodie/locavore scene has been cooking here for years.Everything to do here compliments of lonelyplanet.com

Interestingly not the top spot for St Patrick’s Day, but Boston doesn’t take this holiday lightly with its strong Irish roots.Plus, if a history buff, this is a city for you. Everything to do here compliments of lonelyplanet.com

Definitely an unexpected city to find on a list for St Patrick’s Day, but it made it! Tampa is known for its zoo, the aquarium, the children's museums and the theme parks. Plus, families have enough top-shelf entertainment to last a week.Everything to do here compliments of lonelyplanet.com

It’s our home base, and we’re not being biased because of that, we honestly found it on a few of the National lists of Top 50 cities to celebrate. We know how to do St Patrick’s Day here too, folks. Not to mention we’re known for being the friendliest bunch of people you’ll ever meet. Welcoming. No accents. A world-class zoo. Home of the College World Series and to the world champion boxer (holding belts in three weight classes), Terence Crawford. They call us a fly over state, but we’re kind of proud of what we have in this city. Everything to do here compliments of lonelyplanet.com